Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner who broke his leg during the Preakness Stakes, is almost healthy enough to be released from his ICU stall at University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. He has been the focus of hopes and prayers of many horse racing fans — and little kids who are fans of horsies in general. The chief surgeon at the center has this to say about Barbaro’s recovery:

“It’s not a miracle. It’s anything but that,” he said, sitting next to a Christmas tree topped with a stuffed Barbaro.

“Some of the Barbaro fans aren’t going to like that, perhaps. I’m a scientist, I’m a doctor. I’m not a faith healer or a religious person. I believe in the application in science and I think nothing that’s happened to him is particularly miraculous.”